The Carmel Valley Dons Jr. Midget Division 1 Football Team won last Saturday in a remarkable come-from-behind display of determination. "Amazing! That's about the best way to explain our game," said Coach Steve LoCicero. "This was the type of game that the boys will continue talking about when they are our age." After a very flat first half, the team entered the locker room down 22 - 6 against a well coached Otay Ranch Broncos. A renewed team emerged from the locker room and the Dons fought relentlessly on each down, led by quarterback Jack Allred on offense, and linebacker Luke Talman on defense. With four unanswered touch downs in the second half, and over 200 rushing yards by Owen Peterson, they finished the game 32 - 30.

"I'm very proud of the entire team for their competitive determination. At half time they talked about not letting their teammates down even if they felt like quitting. And they walked the walk," said LoCicero.

The team has a very physical offensive and defensive front line led by linemen Trent Crabtree, Jack Gitre, Whit Sears and Mitchell McKinnon, with an average weight of close to 140 lbs. This provides a very good pocket for the quarterbacks (Jack Allred and Ben Spitters) to scan their passing options. Large targets like Matt Haase, Lars Tvedt and Michael Kim proved too much for Otay Ranch in the second half. The Dons defense was able to stop Otay's game-winning drive in the final seconds of the match. Linebackers Nick Wayland and Garrison Laser played flawlessly, preventing any run attempts up the middle.

The Carmel Valley Dons Youth Football was formed in 2010 to create a very competitive Division 1 football program in the Carmel Valley area to prepare top athletes for high school football. The league's home stadium is Cathedral Catholic High School and is proud to wear their colors. Informally nicknamed "Little Dons" by the Cathedral High football players, they contribute much of their first year success to the support of Varsity Head Coach Sean Doyle and Athletic Director David Smola.